Columbus, Ohio – Columbus police, along with state and federal law enforcement, are actively searching for a missing 5-year-old boy who was the subject of an AMBER Alert issued early Wednesday morning. Darnell Taylor was taken from his home by his foster mother, Pammy Maye, according to law enforcement officials.
According to Deputy Chief Smith Weir of the Columbus Police Department, the boy was last seen at his home on the city’s South Side. He is believed to have been taken by Maye and was last seen wearing Spider-Man pajamas and white boots. Columbus Police Chief Elaine R. Bryant expressed concern for the child’s safety and urged the public to come forward with any information.
The situation took a worrisome turn when Maye’s husband made a distress call to 911, stating that his wife had made statements leading him to believe Taylor may have been hurt. Maye promptly left the home, prompting law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert.
Maye, 48, was driving a grey 2015 Jeep Cherokee with the license plate number JIGGZII. The vehicle was found unoccupied in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn. As police continue their search for Maye and the child, K-9 officers are combing the area around Maye’s home for any clues.
Maye had been fostering Taylor since May 2023, and the boy’s biological family has been notified of his disappearance. Bryant emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for the public’s assistance, as the whereabouts and condition of the child remain uncertain.
Anyone with information about Darnell Taylor or Pammy Maye is urged to contact authorities at 1-877-AMBER-OH (1-877-262-3764) or 911.
The community has been called upon to stay vigilant and aid in the ongoing search for the missing child and his foster mother. Law enforcement is urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward to help locate Darnell Taylor and ensure his safe return.